JOURNALS OF THE CONTINENTAL CONGRESS 1774-1789 EDITED FROM THE ORIGINAL RECORDS CHIEF, DIVISION OF MANUSCRIPTS Volume V. 1776 June 5-October 8 WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1906 WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 1776 A letter of the 2d from Major General Putnam, with sundry letters and papers enclosed, was laid before Congress, and read:1 Resolved, That the same be referred to the Committee on Prisoners. A letter from the committee of Greenwich, in Cumberland county, in New Jersey, dated 3 instant, was laid before Congress and read, informing that the sloop Betsey and Ann, Benjamin Tucker, master, from Bermudas, was arrived there with 1700 bushels of salt, and two puncheons of Rum, which he is desirous of exchanging for provisions, which the inhabitants of the islands of Bermudas are in extreme want of: Whereupon, Resolved, That the said master be allowed to exchange his cargo for provisions, and to export the same, under the inspection and direction of the committee of Greenwich, who are desired to take an oath, or such other security as they think proper, of the said master, that he will carry the same to the islands of Bermudas, and will use his utmost endeavours to avoid all English men of war and cutters. The Congress took into consideration the report from the committee of the whole: Whereupon, Resolved, That a committee of five be appointed to consider what is proper to be done with persons giving intelligence to the enemy, or supplying them with provisions: The members chosen, Mr. J[ohn] Adams, Mr. [Thomas] Jefferson, Mr. [Edward] Rutledge, Mr. [James] Wilson, and Mr. R[obert] R. Livingston. 1 This letter is in the Papers of the Continental Congress, No. 159, folio 11. |